NCCE inaugurates Greater Accra Regional Inter-Party Dialogue Committee

Thursday, 23 February 2012 02:13

Accra, Feb. 22, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Wednesday inaugurated an Interim Greater Accra Regional Inter-Party Dialogue Committee to serve as a unifying body to promote peace and resolve conflicts before and after the elections.

The Committee which is composed of all stakeholders involved in the election process has Rev Anthony Mensah, Representative of the Christian Council of Ghana as Chairman, Alhaji Awaiso Bio, a representative from the Office of the National Chief Imam as the Vice-Chairman and Mr Haruna Dauda, representative of the Commission on Human Rights and administrative Justice (CHRAJ), as its Secretary.

Other members include representatives from the Regional House of Chiefs, the Ghana Police Service, NCCE, Electoral Commission, National Youth Authority, Abantu for Development, Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and the Media.

The rest include representatives from the Convention People's Party (CPP), New Patriotic Party (NPP), People's National Convention (PNC), the United Renaissance Party and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

The Committee would also serve as a buffer zone in the constituencies to stem the tide of unnecessary suspicions and anxiety among political parties, to enhance the political, economic and social progress and stability of the country.

Mr Samuel Akuamoah, Director of Programmes, NCCE, in his inaugural address explained that the formation of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee was in line with the constitutional mandate of the NCCE of educating the citizenry to entrenched constitutional democracy in the country.

He said the Committee was structured to be at the National, Regional, District, constituencies, Zonal and Ward levels to enable the committees act to defuse tension on violations of the breach of the Code of Conduct of Political Parties that may lead to violence, stress and destruction of life and property.

The Committee would therefore focus attention on mediation and resolution of petty conflicts, monitor the enforcement of the Code of Conduct of Political parties, promote peace and tolerance and identify issues that had the potential to trigger electoral conflicts, he said.

“It will also help deepen collaboration between the NCCE, Electoral Commission, Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations, Institute of Economic Affairs, Traditional authorities and opinion leaders in the promotion of non-violence, free and fair elections.

Mr Akuamoah stressed that it was important for all stakeholders including political parties in Ghana's political process to put the country ahead of all other things to ensure a peaceful electioneering process.

He said the NCCE would ensure that all political parties were involved in the build-up of peace during and after the elections. However representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were absent with no prior permission.

He urged the members to exhibit total commitment and support to the Executives of the Committee to ensure the achievement of their goal.

Mrs Joyce B. Afutu, Regional Director, NCCE, warned that Ghana's enviable record in the Rule of Law and Good Governance must not be taken for granted as citizens go to the polls come December this year, adding “this will be another test for the country's democratic credentials”.

She said though Ghanaians had continuously upheld the Supremacy of the Constitution, the Rule of Law, free, vibrant and liberalized media landscape and the promotion of democracy in general.

However, the challenges that Multi-party politics posed to Ghana and Ghanaians as a nation and individuals were varied, therefore people's rights and freedoms could be threatened and destroyed as a result of ignorance, thereby making democracy a mere object of illusion.

She said Ghana had chalked an enviable record of success since the country returned to constitutional rule in 1992, and had since enjoyed an unprecedented and uninterrupted stable democratic, peace and tranquillity as well as economic progress.

She said the country had successfully conducted Presidential and Parliamentary Elections five times in succession culminating in peaceful transition and transfer of power from a ruling party to an opposition party in 2000 and 2008 respectively.

She called on all stakeholders in the election process to partner the NCCE and other agencies to educate the electorates on the need for peaceful co-existence and violence free elections in Ghana.

GNA

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